IDF can’t operate in Sinai, says Egyptian MP

Mohammed Abd al-Haleem, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also says Egypt will not act militarily against Israel

The remains of an Egyptian military vehicle used by terrorists to smash through the border fence and into Israel in August (photo credit: Tsafrir Abayov/Flash 90)

Writers

Ilan Ben Zion
Ilan Ben Zion is a news editor at The Times of Israel. He holds a Masters degree in Diplomacy from
… [More]Tel Aviv University and an Honors Bachelors degree from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, Jewish Studies, and English. [Less]

A member of the Egyptian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee was adamant in saying Sunday that his country would not allow Israel to operate independently against Islamist terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, Egyptian MP Mohammed Abd al-Haleem said, “It is impossible under any circumstances that Israel would conduct strikes against Egyptians in Sinai.”

Regarding the buildup of Egyptian troops in the Peninsula, he said, “We have updated Israel regarding the sending of more troops than allowed under the Camp David Accords in order to finish the military missions in Sinai.

“We are updating the Israelis so that they remain calm,” al-Haleem added. “We will not act against them.”

He explained that Cairo could not wait until the necessary amendments were made to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, which greatly limits the presence of Egyptian forces in the Peninsula.

Egypt has mobilized large military forces to the Sinai in light of the rapidly deteriorating security situation there.

Al-Haleem added that the military operation against Islamist terrorists in the area would continue for an unspecified amount of time.

Terrorists from the Sinai Peninsula on Friday launched a cross-border attack against Israeli Defense Forces soldiers who were securing work on the border fence. Netanel Yahalomi, 20, was killed in that attack, and a second soldier was wounded.

Ansar Jerusalem, a shadowy group inspired by al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack, and linked it to the video denigrating the Prophet Muhammad that has sparked protests across the Muslim world.

Mohammed Esmat Seif al-Dawla said the proposal will include major changes to the peace treaty’s fourth article, which governs the establishment of “limited force zones in Egyptian and Israeli territory” along the shared border with the Sinai Peninsula. According to the Camp David Accords, Egypt may station “no more than one division (mechanized or infantry) of Egyptian armed forces” more than 30 miles from the Suez Canal.

Al-Dawla contends that the article limits Egypt’s rights to protect the Sinai Peninsula and must be changed.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman responded to mention of amending the treaty on Sunday, telling Israel Radio that “there is no chance Israel will agree to any kind of change” in the 1979 agreement. “The Egyptians shouldn’t try to delude themselves or delude others and they should not rely on this demand,” he added.